Method for controlling bidirectional remote controller and bidirectional remote controller implementing the method

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller is provided. The method includes receiving, at the bidirectional remote controller, menu information from a display apparatus; generating, at the bidirectional remote controller, a menu screen based on the received menu information for controlling the display apparatus; and displaying the generated menu screen on a display of the bidirectional remote controller.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/177,091, filed on Jul. 6, 2011, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2010-0101962, filed on Oct. 19, 2010 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relategenerally to a method for controlling a bidirectional remote controllerand a bidirectional remote controller implementing the method, and moreparticularly, to a method for controlling a bidirectional remotecontroller and a bidirectional remote controller implementing themethod, which can control a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a remote controller is a device that remotely controlselectronic appliances, such as a television receiver, a DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc), a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a cable broadcastingdevice, a set top box, an audio device, and the like through wirelesstransmission of a control frequency. For this, the remote controllertransmits a control signal to a remotely controlled electronicappliance, for example, using an infrared signal.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a display device 110unidirectionally receives only a simple signal, such as a channel changesignal, a volume control signal, and the like, by a remote controller120.

However, in controlling a display device 110 such as a televisionreceiver, a menu screen is displayed using an on-screen display (OSD).However, as the functions and complexity of processing and displayingimages on the screen are increased, it is inconvenient to inputnavigation, selection, and characters of OSD on the screen using aremote controller.

For example, since a user is required to search for and set a desiredfunction, such as when reviewing an instruction manual in a displaydevice, the user looks at instruction manual on the screen, exits theOSD containing the instruction manual, and returns to another OSD of thescreen to perform the desired operation. Also, there is an increasingneed for a special pointing device or character input function in orderto perform Internet browsing.

SUMMARY

Aspects of exemplary embodiments address at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedbelow. Accordingly, an aspect of an exemplary embodiment provides amethod for controlling a bidirectional remote controller and abidirectional remote controller implementing the method, which candirectly transmit settings desired by a user to a display device.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided amethod for controlling a bidirectional remote controller, the methodincluding the bidirectional remote controller receiving and displaying amenu screen from a display device; selecting a menu from the displayedmenu screen; and transmitting at least one of a control command fordisplaying an active window that corresponds to the selected menu and acontrol command for executing a function that corresponds to theselected menu on the display device to the display device.

The bidirectional remote controller may be a remote controller thatincludes a touch screen remote controller or a display unit.

The menu screen may include at least one of an OSD menu screen and ane-manual screen of the display device.

The OSD menu screen may be a screen for setting a screen or sound of thedisplay device.

The menu screen may be received in an Extensible Markup Language (XML)data format from the display device.

The displaying of the active window may include installing a program forconfiguring the menu screen received in the XML data format in theremote controller.

The method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller may furtherinclude receiving a user input from a user; and transmitting data thatcorresponds to the user input to the display device.

The control command for displaying the active window that corresponds tothe selected menu screen on the display device may be a control commandfor immediately displaying the active window on the display device inthe case where any one menu is selected by a user from the displayedmenu screen in the remote controller.

Each active window that corresponds to the selected menu may have itsinherent identifier (ID), and the control command for displaying theactive window that corresponds to the selected menu screen may includethe inherent ID.

The transmitting the at least one of the control commands to the displaydevice may include transmitting the control commands that correspond tothe plurality of menus individually or collectively when the pluralityof menus are selected.

The control command may include a control command for storing the datainput by the remote controller in the display device.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a bidirectional remote controller including a reception unitreceiving a menu screen for controlling a display device from thedisplay device; a display unit displaying the menu screen received bythe reception unit; a function execution unit generating at least one ofa control command for displaying an active window that corresponds tothe selected menu and a control command for executing a function thatcorresponds to the selected menu on the display device when at least onemenu is selected from the menu screen; and a transmission unittransmitting the generated control command to the display device.

The menu screen may include at least one of an OSD menu screen and ane-manual screen of the display device.

The OSD menu screen may be a screen for setting a screen or sound of thedisplay device.

The reception unit may receive the menu screen in an XML data formatfrom the display device.

The display unit may install the menu screen received in the XML dataformat in the bidirectional remote controller.

The bidirectional remote controller according to an exemplary embodimentmay further include a user command input unit receiving a user inputfrom a user, and the transmission unit may transmit data thatcorresponds to the user input to the display device.

The transmission unit may transmit a control command for immediatelydisplaying the active window to the display device in the case where anyone menu is selected by a user from the displayed menu screen in theremote controller.

Each active window that corresponds to the selected menu may have itsinherent ID, and the control command for displaying the active windowthat corresponds to the selected menu screen may include the inherentID.

The transmission unit may transmit the control commands that correspondto the plurality of menus individually or collectively when theplurality of menus are selected.

The control command may include a control command for storing the datainput by the remote controller in the display device.

According to other exemplary embodiments, a user can directly transmitsettings desired by the user to the display device as the user confirmsthe setting and operation screen of the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects, of the exemplary embodiments will bemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a remote controllercontrols a display device;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a bidirectionalremote controller according to an exemplary embodiment controls adisplay device;

FIG. 3 is a brief block diagram of a bidirectional remote controlleraccording to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling abidirectional remote controller according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, in explaining theexemplary embodiments, detailed descriptions of constructions orprocesses known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subjectmatter of the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a bidirectionalremote controller according to an exemplary embodiment controls adisplay device.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a bidirectional remote controller 220according to an exemplary embodiment performs bidirectionalcommunication with a display device 210.

Also, the display device 210 may transmit an OSD menu screen for controlof the display device to the bidirectional remote controller 220, andthe bidirectional remote controller 220 may transmit a control commandfor displaying an active window that corresponds to a menu screenselected by a user or a control command for executing a function thatcorresponds to the menu screen selected by the user to the displaydevice 210.

Accordingly, an OSD menu screen for controlling screen brightness,contrast, and the like is displayed on the bidirectional remotecontroller.

FIG. 3 is a brief block diagram of a bidirectional remote controlleraccording to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the bidirectional remote controller 220 includesa reception unit 221, a display unit 223, a function execution unit 225,a transmission unit 227, and a user command input unit 229.

The reception unit 221 receives the menu screen for controlling thedisplay device 210 from the display device 210.

In an exemplary embodiment, the reception unit 221 may receive the menuscreen in an XML data format from the display device 210.

Here, the XML data format represents a method for describing schemausing an XML (Extensible Markup Language) grammar, and is an XMLapplication for defining metadata schema.

In an exemplary embodiment, the menu screen may include at least one ofan OSD menu screen and an e-manual screen of the display device.

Here, the OSD menu screen may be a screen for setting a screen or soundof the display device.

In other words, through the menu screen, the OSD, manual, and the likeof the display device 210 that is a main video appliance can bereceived.

For example, the OSD may be an OSD menu screen for setting a screen orsound of the display device or an e-manual that is a user guide for thedisplay device.

Accordingly, the bidirectional remote controller according to anexemplary embodiment can directly receive the OSD screen for controllingthe display device, and can set the screen or sound desired by the user.

The display unit 223 of the bidirectional remote controller 220 outputsthe menu screen received by the reception unit 221 from the displaydevice 210.

Here, the bidirectional remote controller 220 may be a remote controllerthat includes a touch screen or a display unit.

In other words, since the bidirectional remote controller 220 accordingto an exemplary embodiment receives the OSD screen or the like from thedisplay device 210 and displays the OSD screen on the bidirectionalremote controller 220, the bidirectional remote controller 220 shouldinclude a display unit such as a touch screen.

Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the display unit 223 of thebidirectional remote controller 220 may install a program in thebidirectional remote controller 220 for configuring the menu screenreceived by the reception unit 221 in the XML data format.

Accordingly, it is necessary to install the OSD screen received from thedisplay device 210 in the bidirectional remote controller 220 in orderto control the display device.

If at least one menu is selected from the menu screen, the functionexecution unit 225 generates at least one of the control command fordisplaying an active window that corresponds to the selected menu andthe control command for executing a function that corresponds to theselected menu on the display device.

In other words, if the user selects any one of the OSD menu screen ore-manual screen received from the display device 210, the functionexecution unit 225 generates the control command that executes thefunction that corresponds to the selected item.

The transmission unit 227 transmits the control command generated by thefunction execution unit 225 to the display device 210.

In an exemplary embodiment, the transmission unit 227 can transmit thecontrol command for immediately displaying the active window to thedisplay device 210 in the case where any one of the menu screensdisplayed on the bidirectional remote controller 220 is selected by theuser.

In other words, if the user selects any one of diverse menu items on theremote controller, the transmission unit of the bidirectional remotecontroller according to an exemplary embodiment transmits the controlcommand for immediately displaying the active window that corresponds tothe selected menu item on the display device 210 to the display device210. Accordingly, the user can perform all settings for the screen orsound on the bidirectional remote controller 220 without the necessityof operating the OSD menu screen on the display device 210.

Here, the active window that corresponds to the selected menu screen mayhave its inherent ID, and the control command for displaying the activewindow that corresponds to the selected menu screen may include theinherent ID.

In other words, in order to immediately display the active window thatcorresponds to the menu screen selected on the bidirectional remotecontroller 220 on the display device 210, the inherent ID such as anindex ID is given to each active window that corresponds to the menuscreen selected on the bidirectional remote controller 220, and if theinherent ID that displays the active window is included in the controlcommand, the display device 210 immediately displays the active windowthat corresponds to the inherent ID transmitted from the bidirectionalremote controller 220.

In an exemplary embodiment, if a plurality of menus are selected, thetransmission unit 227 may transmit the control commands that correspondto the plurality of menus individually or collectively.

In other words, the transmission unit 227 may individually transmit thecontrol command according to the menu selected by the user in thefunction execution unit whenever the control command is generated, ormay collectively transmit the control command to the display deviceafter all settings are completed.

Here, the control command may include a control command for storing thedata input by the bidirectional remote controller 220 in the displaydevice 210.

In other words, the control command may include not only the controlcommand according to the menu screen for controlling the display device210 through the remote controller but also the control command forstoring the user input data, such as characters input through the remotecontroller or setting data changed by the bidirectional remotecontroller 220, in the display device 210.

The user command input unit 229 receives the user input from the user.

That is, the function execution unit 225 receives the user input forexecuting a function that corresponds to the menu selected by the user.

In an exemplary embodiment, the transmission unit 227 may transmit thedata that corresponds to the user input received by the user commandinput unit 229 to the display device 210.

For example, the character input data input through the user commandinput unit can be transmitted to the display device 210.

Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the bidirectional remote controller220 can perform not only the function of a remote controller for onedisplay device but also the function of an integrated remote controllerfor a plurality of display devices.

Accordingly, the bidirectional remote controller 220 according todiverse exemplary embodiments can immediately transmit the settingsdesired by the user to the display device 210 for storage as the userwatches the setting and operation explanation of the display device onthe remote controller in the case of using contents such as an e-manualor the like. Also, it is possible to freely operate the OSD menu screenon the screen without discriminating the OSD menu screens displayed onthe display device. Also, in the case of setting navigation of the OSDmenu screen using the bidirectional remote controller 220, the user'sinput of touch, instruction, character input, and the like, can befreely performed.

Hereinafter, a method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller220 according to an exemplary embodiment will be described. In thefollowing description, explanation that overlaps the above-describedexplanation of the bidirectional remote controller according to anembodiment of the invention will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling abidirectional remote controller according to an embodiment of theinvention.

First, the bidirectional remote controller 220 receives a menu screenfrom the display device 210 and displays the menu screen (S410).

Here, the bidirectional remote controller 220 may be a remote controllerthat includes a touch screen remote controller or a display unit. Inother words, since the bidirectional remote controller 220 according toan exemplary embodiment receives the OSD screen or the like from thedisplay device 210 and displays the OSD screen on the bidirectionalremote controller 220, it should include a display unit such as a touchscreen.

In an exemplary embodiment, the menu screen may include at least one ofan OSD menu screen and an e-manual screen of the display device 210.

Here, the OSD menu screen may be a screen for setting a screen or soundof the display device.

In other words, through the menu screen, the OSD, manual, and the like,of the display device 210 that is a main video appliance can be receivedfrom the display device 210.

For example, the OSD may be an OSD menu screen for setting a screen orsound of the display device 210 or an e-manual that is a user guide forthe display device 210.

Accordingly, the bidirectional remote controller 220 according to anexemplary embodiment can directly receive the OSD screen for controllingthe display device 210, and can set the screen or sound desired by theuser.

In an exemplary embodiment, the menu screen may be received in an XMLdata format from the display device 210.

Here, receiving the menu screen from the display device 210 anddisplaying the menu screen on the bidirectional remote controller 220may include installing a program for configuring the menu screenreceived in the XML data format in the bidirectional remote controller220.

This is because an installation program for displaying the OSD screenreceived from the display device is required in order to receive the OSDscreen for controlling the display device 210 in the bidirectionalremote controller 220 and to control the display device 210 accordingly.

Next, a menu is selected from the menu screen displayed in operationS410 (S430).

According to the method for controlling a bidirectional remotecontroller 220 according to an exemplary embodiment, a user selects anyone of the OSD menu screen and e-manual received from the display device210.

Last, at least one of a control command for displaying an active windowthat corresponds to the menu screen selected in operation S430 and acontrol command for executing a function that corresponds to theselected menu on the display device 210 is transmitted to the displaydevice 210 (S450).

Here, the method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller 220according to an exemplary embodiment may further include receiving auser input from the user and transmitting data that corresponds to theuser input to the display device 210.

In an exemplary embodiment, the control command for displaying theactive window that corresponds to the selected menu screen on thedisplay device 210 may be a control command for immediately displayingthe active window in the case where any one menu is selected by the userfrom the menu screens displayed on the bidirectional remote controller220.

In other words, if the user selects any one of diverse menu items on thebidirectional remote controller 220, the control command for immediatelydisplaying the active window that corresponds to the selected menu itemon the display device 210 is transmitted to the display device 210.Accordingly, the user can perform all settings for the screen or soundon the bidirectional remote controller 220 without the necessity ofoperating the OSD menu screen on the display device 210.

Here, the active window that corresponds to the selected menu screen mayhave its inherent ID, and the control command for displaying the activewindow that corresponds to the selected menu screen may include theinherent ID.

Therefore, in order to immediately display the active window thatcorresponds to the menu screen selected on the bidirectional remotecontroller 220 on the display device 210, the inherent ID such as anindex ID is given to each active window that corresponds to the menuscreen selected on the bidirectional remote controller 220, and if theinherent ID that displays the active window is included in the controlcommand, the display device 210 immediately displays the active windowthat corresponds to the inherent ID transmitted from the bidirectionalremote controller. 220

In an exemplary embodiment, if a plurality of menus are selected,operation S450 may transmit the control commands individually orcollectively.

In other words, the control command according to the menu selected bythe user may be individually transmitted whenever the control command isgenerated, or may be collectively transmitted to the display device 210after all settings are completed.

Here, the control command may include a control command for storing thedata input by the remote controller in the display device.

In other words, the control command may include not only the controlcommand according to the menu screen for controlling the display device210 through the bidirectional remote controller 220 but also the controlcommand for storing the user input data, such as characters inputthrough the remote controller or setting data changed by thebidirectional remote controller 220, in the display device 210.

Accordingly, the method for controlling a bidirectional remotecontroller 220 according to diverse exemplary embodiments canimmediately transmit the settings desired by the user to the displaydevice 210 for storage as the user watches the setting and operationexplanation of the display device 210 on the remote controller in thecase of using contents such as an e-manual or the like. Also, it ispossible to freely operate the OSD menu screen on the screen withoutdiscriminating the OSD menu screens displayed on the display device 210.Also, in the case of setting navigation of the OSD menu screen using thebidirectional remote controller 220, the user's input of touch,instruction, character input, and the like, can be freely performed.

While the inventive concept has been shown and described with referenceto certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiveconcept, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a remote controller, themethod comprising: receiving, at the remote controller, information forgenerating a menu screen from a display apparatus; generating the menuscreen including a plurality of menu items based on the receivedinformation; displaying the generated menu screen on a touch displayunit of the remote controller; in response to a user input for selectinga first menu item among the plurality of menu items in the menu screen,generating a first control signal including identification informationcorresponding to the selected menu item for the display apparatus todisplay a screen corresponding to the identification informationimmediately; in response to a user input for selecting a second menuitem among the plurality of menu items in the menu screen, generating asecond control signal to control the display apparatus without changinga screen currently displayed in the display apparatus; and transmittingto the display apparatus either the first control signal or the secondcontrol signal, wherein each of the plurality of menu items correspondsto each of a plurality of screens displayable in the display apparatus.2. The method for controlling the remote controller as claimed in claim1, wherein the user input on the menu screen does not affect a displaystatus of the display apparatus until the first or second control signalis transmitted.
 3. The method for controlling the remote controller asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the display apparatus displays the screenimmediately, in response to receiving the first control signal.
 4. Themethod for controlling the remote controller as claimed in claim 1,wherein the menu screen comprises at least one of an on-screen display(OSD) menu screen and an e-manual screen of the display apparatus. 5.The method for controlling the remote controller as claimed in claim 4,wherein the OSD menu screen is a screen for setting a screen or sound ofthe display apparatus.
 6. The method for controlling the remotecontroller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu information isencoded in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) data format.
 7. Themethod for controlling the remote controller as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first or second control signal is for storing data input bythe remote controller in the display apparatus.
 8. A non-transitorycomputer readable recordable medium having recorded thereon a programwhich is executable by a computer to perform the method for controllingthe remote controller as claimed in claim
 1. 9. A method for controllinga display apparatus by an external device, the method comprising:transmitting, from the display apparatus, information on plurality ofmenu items for generating a menu screen to the external device;receiving, at the display apparatus, a first control signal includingidentification information corresponding to a first menu item selectedfrom among the plurality of menu items included in the menu screengenerated and displayed by the external device for the display apparatusto display a screen corresponding to the identification informationimmediately; receiving, at the display apparatus, a second controlsignal from the external device, the second control signal correspondingto a second menu item selected from among the plurality of menu itemsincluded in the menu screen generated and displayed by the externaldevice to control the display apparatus without changing a screencurrently displayed in the display apparatus; and in response to thereceiving the first control signal, displaying the screen correspondingto the identification information immediately according to the firstcontrol signal; in response to the receiving the second control signal,controlling the display apparatus according to the second control signalwithout changing the screen currently displayed in the displayapparatus, wherein each of the plurality of menu items corresponds toeach of a plurality of screens displayable in the display apparatus. 10.The method for controlling a display apparatus by an external device asclaimed in claim 9, wherein in response to information to display thescreen which corresponds to the identification information beingincluded in the first control signal, the controller displays the screenimmediately.
 11. The method for controlling a display apparatus by anexternal device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: controllingthe display apparatus based on a user input through the menu screendisplayed on a touch display unit of the external device; andperforming, at the display apparatus, a function corresponding to thereceived second control signal.
 12. The method for controlling a displayapparatus by an external device as claimed in claim 9, wherein thefunction corresponding to the received second control signal is forsetting a screen or sound of the display apparatus.
 13. The method forcontrolling a display apparatus by an external device as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the information on plurality of menu items is encodedin an Extensible Markup Language (XML) data format.
 14. The method forcontrolling a display apparatus by an external device as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the first or second control signal is for storing datainput by the external device in the display apparatus.
 15. A remotecontroller comprising: a communication unit configured to receiveinformation for generating a menu screen from a display apparatus forcontrolling the display apparatus; a display unit; and a control unitconfigured: to generate the menu screen including a plurality of menuitems based on the received information and to control the display unitto display the menu screen including a plurality of menu items, inresponse to a user input for selecting a first menu item among theplurality of menu items in the menu screen, to generate a first controlsignal including identification information corresponding to theselected menu item for the display apparatus to display a screencorresponding to the identification information immediately, and inresponse to a user input for selecting a second menu item among theplurality of menu items in the menu screen, to generate a second controlsignal to control the display apparatus without changing a screencurrently displayed in the display apparatus and to transmit to thedisplay apparatus either the first control signal or the second controlsignal, wherein each of the plurality of menu items corresponds to eachof a plurality of screens displayable in the display apparatus.
 16. Theremote controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein user input on the menuscreen does not affect a display status of the display apparatus untilthe first or second control signal is transmitted.
 17. The remotecontroller as claimed in claim 15, wherein the display apparatusdisplays the screen immediately, in response to receiving the firstcontrol signal.
 18. The remote controller as claimed in claim 15,wherein the menu screen comprises at least one of an on-screen display(OSD) menu screen and an e-manual screen of the display apparatus. 19.The remote controller as claimed in claim 18, wherein the OSD menuscreen is a screen for setting a screen or sound of the displayapparatus.
 20. The remote controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein themenu information is encoded in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) dataformat.
 21. The remote controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein thefirst or second control signal is for storing data input by the remotecontroller in the display apparatus.
 22. A display apparatus comprising:a display; a storage configured to store a plurality of menu items; acommunicator configured to communicate with an external device; acontroller configured: to control the communicator to transmitinformation on the plurality of the menu items to the external devicefor the external device to generate and display a menu screen includingthe plurality of menu items based on the information, to receive a firstcontrol signal including identification information corresponding to afirst menu item selected from among the plurality of menu items includedin the menu screen generated and displayed by the external device forthe display apparatus to display a screen corresponding to theidentification information immediately, and to receive a second controlsignal from the external device via the communicator, the second controlsignal corresponding to a second menu item selected from among theplurality of menu items included in the menu screen generated anddisplayed by the external device to control the display apparatuswithout changing a screen currently displayed in the display apparatus,and to control the display to display the screen corresponding to theidentification information immediately according to the first controlsignal, in response to receiving the first control signal, and tocontrol the display apparatus according to the second control signalwithout changing the screen currently displayed in the displayapparatus, in response to receiving the second control signal, whereineach of the plurality of menu items corresponds to each of a pluralityof screens displayable in the display apparatus.
 23. The displayapparatus as claimed in 22, wherein in response to information todisplay the screen which corresponds to the identification informationbeing included in the first control signal, the controller displays thescreen immediately.
 24. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 22,wherein user input on the external device does not affect the display ofthe display apparatus until the first or second control signal isreceived.
 25. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein thecontroller controls the display apparatus based on a user input receivedthrough menu screen displayed on a touch display of the external device,and performs a function corresponding to the received second controlsignal, the menu screen being generated based on the information on theplurality of the menu items.
 26. The display apparatus as claimed inclaim 23, wherein the controller controls the display to display thescreen immediately, in response to receiving the identificationinformation.